Karen Kwiatkowski: Congress is the problem

AFP

It occurs to me that Constitution isn’t the problem. The president isn’t the problem — or it’s always the same problem, depending on your perspective. No, the problem is a Congress that plays games all year long, partying and trading favors with special interests, with no idea of its constitutional responsibility or its duty to we the people.

Susan Vento and Judy Van Ness: Veterans Day surprise from Congress

AFP

Americans are observing Veterans Day. Some will observe it with a day off from work or checking out the special Veterans Day sales that will be held in department stores. But the real meaning of the day should be to think about the great sacrifices of the men and women who deserve to be honored.

Tim Kaine, Mark Warner urge congressional budget conferees to do job

Chris Graham

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine called on his colleagues on the bipartisan Budget Conference Committee to “surprise the cynics” to compromise and agree on a federal budget for 2013-2014. Senate colleague Mark Warner said at the body’s first meeting on Wednesday that he wants to end the recent fiscal practice of lurching from crisis to crisis.

ACLU to U.S. Supreme Court: Don’t overturn decision on voter petitions

AFP

The ACLU of Virginia yesterday submitted a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court urging the Court to deny the State Board of Elections’ request for review of the Fourth Circuit’s decision holding that Virginia may not prohibit nonresidents from circulating ballot petitions for third-party presidential candidates.

Chris Graham: Syria, and the role of the U.S. on the world stage

AFP

Assad, no doubt, will be emboldened in Syria if the West fails to act in some way, shape or form to his internal aggression, and he won’t be the only one. Ally Russia, with an increasingly aggressive Vladimir Putin pushing the buttons, is calculating the next move in his quest to further strengthen the former superpower. North Korea and China are also watching with great interest to see what the United States does, or as the case may be doesn’t do, in Syria, with their own geopolitical fortunes in mind.

Terry McAuliffe urges Virginia’s congressional delegation to support the Marketplace Fairness Act

Chris Graham

Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe is sending a letter today to Virginia’s U.S. House delegation urging them to support the Marketplace Fairness Act. Monday night, Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine helped in a bipartisan effort to pass this commonsense policy.